Alternative bands will rock Coachman Park on Sunday during the 97X Spring Break 2001 Freebie Weebie concert featuring Our Lady Peace, Dexter Freebish, American Hi Fi, Big Sky and the Hazies.

As the name implies, the show is free. Dan Connelly, promotions director at 97X WSUN radio station, expects at least 10,000 alternative music fans to show up for a good time and, if they want, a henna tattoo.

"All the (acts) kind of fall into not hippie, but related kind of music. Very Phish, Dave Matthews type," Connelly said. "It's laid-back, cool rock. Just a cool vibe."

This is the second time the 4-month-old alternative rock station has offered a concert. The first show was in February in Ybor City. Another one is scheduled for mid-April.

But teenagers were not allowed into the Ybor show, so this is the first opportunity for them to see a 97X-sponsored show.

"This is the first all-ages show," Connelly said. "Our core demographic is 18 to 34."

Connelly said 97X is the only station in the market that is "purely alternative," with "no AC/DC, no Sarah McLachlan."

Connelly said the headliner, Our Lady Peace, has been a "very consistent band" and a mainstay in alternative radio for the past decade. In the past 14 months, the band has found success with the release of Happiness ... Is Not a Fish You Can Catch and a new disc, Spiritual Machines.

The five-member band Dexter Freebish, whose influences include the Beatles, U2 and the Verve, will take the stage at 3:30 p.m. 97X is the only station that has been playing their song, Leaving Town, according to Connelly.

The heaviest rock band on the bill is American Hi Fi, a Boston-based group heavy on guitar and drums.

"After our show they're flying out and doing the MTV Campus Invasion Tour, where they'll hit all the college shows," Connelly said.

The seven-piece roots rock band Big Sky, from Gainesville, will play at 1:10 p.m. The group has been filling houses in Florida for five years, and is "very well known in this community," according to Connelly.

Opening the show will be Clearwater's own the Hazies, a group that had a minor hit a few years ago, Connelly said.

All the acts Connelly scheduled for the show have "very strong songs on the charts," he said.

Connelly said the music should be sublime, but "the other cool thing we're going to do is give away a car, a 2001 Kia Rio."

If you go:

Five alternative rock bands will play the 97X Spring Break 2001 Freebie Weebie Concert beginning at noon Sunday at Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., Clearwater. Doors open at 11 a.m. The concert is free. No coolers. The headliner, Our Lady Peace, is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.

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